LET THE JOY OF THE LORD BE IN YOU ALWAYS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY DECEMBER 28, 2020.

SUBJECT: LET THE JOY OF THE LORD BE IN YOU ALWAYS! 

Memory verse: "Rejoice in the Lord always: Again I will say, rejoice.

"

 (

Philippians 4 vs 4.)

READ: Psalm 37 vs 4 - 5; Isaiah 12 vs 3:

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

37:5: Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Isaiah 12:3: Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

INTIMATION:

Joy is a common theme in Christ’s teaching—He wants us to be joyful always. Joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love, and work in our lives—that He will be there no matter what! Joy is lasting because it is based on God’s presence within us. It is only in being joyous that “you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” The key to immeasurable joy is living in intimate relationship with Christ, the source of all joy. When we do, we will experience God’s special care and protection and see the victory God brings even when defeat seems certain. The fullness of our joy comes from a consistent and intimate relationship with Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit—the rivers of living water. As we contemplate His daily presence, we will find contentment. 

The Bible, in John 7 vs 37 - 39, says, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, Let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, who those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” Salvation is a gift from God that ensures our overwhelming and unparalleled inheritance in Jesus Christ. You can only access this by your delighting (being joyful) in the Lord. When you delight in the Lord, you will commit your ways to Him, completely trusting in Him, and surely He will give you the desires of your heart, and ensures they are accomplished. 

Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ, that is abiding in Him, and Him in you; being a branch of the vine that you may bear fruit. Abiding in Christ means (1) believing that He is God’s Son, (2) receiving Him as Savior and Lord, (3) doing what God says, (4) continuing to believe the gospel, and (5) relating in love to the community of believers—Christ’s Body. When our lives are intertwined with His, He will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. True joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstances. 

For instance, the apostle Paul wrote our memory verse to the believers in Philippi while he was in prison. It is quite strange that a man in prison will be telling  a church to rejoice. But his attitude teaches an important lesson, our inner attitude do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Paul was full of joy because he knows that no matter what happens to him, Jesus Christ was with him. If you are not joyful, you will never look at things in the right perspective. Ultimate joy comes from Christ indwelling within us through the Holy Spirit. He who lives within us will fulfill His final purposes for us. As we understand the future He has for us, we will experience joy. Don’t base your life on circumstances, but on God who controls circumstances.

To delight in someone means to experience great pleasure and joy in his or her presence. This happens only when we know that person well. Thus, to delight in the LORD, we must know Him better. Knowledge of God’s great love for us will indeed makes us delight in Him. And we will To commit ourselves to the LORD, entrusting everything—our lives, families, jobs, possessions—to His control and guidance. We are to trust in Him, believing that He can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be willing to wait patiently for Him to work out what is best for us.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my everything. My joy is complete in You. My total confidence is in Your assured presence and fellowship with me always, Surely, Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life as I dwell in Your presence forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

UNDERSTANDING WHY CHRIST CAME!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 27, 2020.

SUBJECT: UNDERSTANDING WHY CHRIST CAME!

Memory verse:  "Jesus says to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me." (John 14 vs 6.) 

READ: John 1 vs 4; 3 vs 8, 16; 10 vs 10; 14 vs 27; 16 vs 33; Luke 2 vs 10; Acts 10 vs 38:

John 1:4: In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.

3:8: The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

3:16: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

10:10: The thief does not except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

14:27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives Do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

16:33: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Luke 2:10: Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people.

Acts 10:38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him.

INTIMATION:

Jesus came to reveal and represent the Father, and as well show us the way to the Father. He is the visible, tangible image of the invisible God. He is the complete revelation of what God is like. To know Jesus is to know God (Colossians 1 vs 15 - 16; Hebrews 1 vs 1 - 4). He is our path to the Father. As the truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. As the life He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally. 

Jesus Christ is the Creator of life (John 3 vs 3), and His life brings light to humankind. In His light, we see ourselves as we really are (sinners in need of a Savior). When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our lives. When Christ guides you in His light, you will never need to,stumble in darkness. 

Jesus came to bring salvation to mankind, and restore man to the glory he lost in the Garden of Eden, as well as restore divinity to man. God's Will of abundance for us was supreme until that fatal day Adam and Eve, our first parents, committed high treason against God by doubting His integrity, and believing God's permanent enemy—Satan. 

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. All evils are the works of the devil. But Jesus came to destroy all his works. Jesus, reading from the book of Isaiah, said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed: To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4 vs 18 - 19.) Jesus was proclaiming Himself as the One who would bring this good news to pass. 

Jesus came to restore the supernatural back to man. In Mark 16 vs 17 - 18, the Scripture says, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; They will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” There are times when God intervenes miraculously to protect His followers. Occasionally He gives them special powers. This does not mean, however, that we should test God by putting ourselves in dangerous situations or try to tempt the laws of nature. 

Jesus came to bring unspeakable joy to the world. The demeanor of a Christian lifestyle is that of joy for what Christ has wrought for us in redemption, and the hope of living in eternity with God. Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. Christ is near, and at His second coming we will fully realize this ultimate joy. He who lives within us will fulfill His final purposes for us. In First Peter 1 vs 8, the Scripture says, “Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 

Jesus came to bring peace that passes all understanding to humanity. The result of one’s prayerful communication with God that is based on faith, is an inner tranquility that cannot be expressed in words. The end result of Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ’s peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future. Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and live to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Peace comes from knowing that God is in control. Our citizenship in Christ’s kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. 

He came to give us life at its best. The life Christ gives now is abundantly rich and full. It is eternal, yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane because of His overflowing forgiveness, love, and guidance. Jesus affirms that one is not only saved if he enters through Him as the door, but such a person will also comprehend and enjoy the fullness for which life on earth was meant to be. It is only in Christ that one understands, and thus receives those blessings that enrich and enhance living.  “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue.” (Second Peter 1 vs 3.) 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You For the gift of Your Son, Jesus, to mankind. May all the reasons for His coming be fully expressed in my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

HE IS STILL YOUR MAKER!

 He Is Still Your Maker! 

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 (KJV)

Acknowledging the Most High as your maker is the beginning of your greatness. The Most High God loves mankind so much that He has to take its form in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to reveal Himself to us and show us His way (John 1:14). Indeed, He is still our Maker and in the business of making us great if we can only acknowledge Him and follow Him. He said to Simon Peter and his brother, Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” When they obliged and followed Him, He made them fishers of men, thus fulfilling His promise (Acts 2:41). Dear beloved, do you acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Maker? God is a Spirit and He wouldn’t reveal His infinite nature to us because we cannot stand it. Moses only had the privilege of seeing His back, but we can see God’s humanity in Jesus Christ (Exodus 33:23, John 14:9–10). Thus, when we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Maker and follow Him, He will make us what He wants us to be on earth, thereby fulfilling His will and purpose for our lives. Beloved, He can use your profession, as long as it doesn’t break His Word, to win souls and beautify the lives of others. If you don’t have a profession, He will lead you to create one or find one so that you can make a positive impact in the lives of people, thereby drawing them closer to Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Glory to the Highest!

Prayer Point: My loving and faithful Father, I’m overjoyed to have Jesus Christ as my Lord and brother. Please lead me to acknowledge Him and follow Him all the days of my life, for Him to use me to fulfill His desire and purpose for creating me. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

IT IS TIME TO RETURN TO THE LORD!

 It Is Time to Return to the LORD! 

“For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.” Isaiah 30:15 (KJV)

Taking advantage of the time left to return to the Lord guarantees eternal blessings. Life is full of surprises. Lots of events happen – either good or evil – some of which go in our favor and others that do not. When everything is going in our favor, it is easy to praise God and thank Him and proclaim His goodness (Job 1:3–5). However, in times of crises, trials, and challenges it is common to complain, murmur, despair, and worry. Some even depart from the Christian faith in the quest for finding solutions to the challenges. Others remain in the Christian faith but engage in acts of corruption to alleviate the challenges or problems (2 Timothy 4:10). Dear beloved, if you find yourself in either of these two groups being described, then meditate on the opening scripture again and return to the Lord. He says if you return He will save you and give you rest. Beloved, be humble and return in quietness and confidence, and He will provide you the strength to stand as a child of God to enjoy eternal blessings. Remember that your joining another faith such as Islam, Buddhism, etc. or practicing acts of corruption may relieve you now from your challenges, but you will lose your eternal rewards (Mark 8:36–37). You will also send your own soul to hell if you do not repent and return to God. Remember that Jesus Christ came to save the lost, so see yourself as lost and return to Him, for He is still willing to receive you, forgive you, sanctify you, and bless you (Luke 19:10). Hallelujah! God bless you!

Prayer Point: My loving and gracious Father, I thank You for remembering me. I missed the way and I’m willing to come back to You. Please forgive me and receive me again onto Yourself. Please give me more grace to trust You, especially in times of difficulties and trials, in order to become mature and available to You to use to inspire many onto godliness in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

THE REALITY OF REDEMPTION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 26, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE REALITY OF REDEMPTION!

Memory verse:  "In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, the remission of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence." Ephesians 1 vs 7.) 

READ: Romans 3 vs 21 - 26:

3:21: But now the righteousness of God apart from the Law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

3:22: even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

3:23: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3:24: being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

3:25: whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,

3:26: to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

INTIMATION:

Redemption means Christ setting sinners free from slavery to sin and Satan, and revealing of the righteousness of God that comes to man through faith in Jesus Christ. This belongs to all those who acknowledge Christ as Savior and confess him as their Lord. The death of Jesus points to two wonderful scriptural truths—redemption and forgiveness. Redemption is the price paid to gain freedom for a slave (Leviticus 25 vs 47 - 54). Through His death, Jesus paid the price to release us from slavery to sin. Forgiveness was granted was granted in Old Testament times on the basis of the shedding of animals’ blood (Leviticus 17 vs 11). Now we are forgiven on the basis of the shedding of Jesus’ blood—He died as a perfect and final sacrifice.

Those who accept the substitutionary work of Christ, and confessed Him as Lord and Savior, are justified freely on the grounds of grace, through the redemption that God wrought in Christ. The redemption is based upon the fact that God laid our sins, griefs, sorrows, diseases etc., upon Jesus; “Him who knew no sin, God made to become sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21.) Not only did He become the ‘Sin-Bearer,’ but God accepted His substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf. He was delivered up on account of our sins, for God made Him sin with our sins. He was raised from the dead because He had put sin away; He had satisfied the claim of justice—"the soul who sins shall die" (Ezekiel 18 vs 20).

After that, He was made alive in spirit, that is, recreated. He was the firstborn out of death. Thereafter, He was declared righteous and made a new creation by the life God imparted to Him. Then He met the Adversary in his own kingdom and stripped him of his authority and took from him the dominion that he had over the world. That new creation—the recreated life, is what Christ has wrought for us, and we are also made righteous in Him in redemption.

When Jesus arose from the dead, He arose, not only because He had put away sin, but also because He had, as a substitute, conquered Satan. It was as though we, individually, had been the conquerors, just as though we had been there in that dark region and had conquered Satan, stripped him of his authority and risen from the dead.  When Christ rose from the dead, redemption became a settled and closed issue.

Note carefully in our memory verse, "In Whom we have." That means in Christ we have (present tense) our redemption out of the hand of the enemy, so Satan no longer has dominion over us. We have our redemption from sin and its judgement. "Sin shall not have dominion over us, for we are not under law but under grace." It is better put this way, "Sin shall not lord it over us because now we have entered the realm of grace through the new birth." Again, the Scriptures in Colossians 1 vs 13 - 14 says, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."

Note carefully that we have been delivered out of the authority of Satan. He has no dominion over us. He has no more right to reign over you than the Pharaoh of Egypt had to reign over delivered Israel in Palestine. We have been translated over into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in Whom we have our redemption. It's ours just as the money you have in your pocket that you earned honestly is yours. Now this redemption from Satan is a present tense fact, for you have this redemption now, and it is eternal.

As long as one holds his redemption as a theory or as a doctrine it will bring him no sense of reality, but as soon as he looks up and says, "Father, I thank you for my perfect redemption, that this body of mine is no longer under the dominance of Satan, that my mind and senses are no longer to be dominated by the Adversary; I am free, and by Your grace I will not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage,"  then, the reality is established.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You most faithful God, for redeeming me from the hands of the Adversary and his works. By Your grace I am justified, made righteous in Christ. Also, engrace me to forever live for You, in Jesus’ matchless Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 25, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION!

Memory verse: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

" 

(Luke 2 vs 11.)

READ: Isaiah 9 vs 6 - 7:

9:6: For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

9:7: Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

INTIMATION:

Christmas is an annual festival in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the Son of God, and holds on 25th December—Christmas Day. The name Christmas comes from the Mass of Christ. A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. It’s also the season when Christians celebrate the coming of the King who to liberate the world from sin and evil. It is a time of God’s show of His great love for us (John 3 vs 16), by sending  His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born, and to die for the sins of the whole world.

The fall of man in the book of Genesis is the foundation of Christmas. The fall of man into sin at the Garden of Eden necessitated the need for a Savior to be born to deliver the world from sin. The bad news of Adam’s sin was punishable by death (Genesis 2 vs 17). Jesus would fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah, for He would be Immanuel (“God with us,” see Isaiah 7 vs 14). Jesus was God in the flesh; thus, God was literally among us, “with us.” Through the Holy Spirit, Christ is present today in the life of every believer. In Jesus, the infinite, unlimited God took on the limitations of humanity so He could live and die for the salvation of all who would believe in Him. His story is one of truth, love, and hope—it brought salvation to all of us. 

Through the sins of Adam and Eve, we have all inherited that sin nature. We need to have that removed. The only way is through Jesus. Jesus came so He could die on the cross for all of our sins. If we believe that Jesus died for our sins, we can ask Him to come into our lives, and forgive us. Then, we are clean and made whole. Jesus came to the world to restore the dignity of man that was lost to Satan through Adam’s treason at the Garden of Eden. God sent His only Son to die for us so that we could be spared from the eternal death we deserve, but instead receive eternal life (John 3 vs 16.) Because Jesus lived as a man, He fully understands our experiences and struggles (Hebrews 4 vs 15 - 16). Because He is God, He has the power and authority to deliver us from sin (Colossians 2 vs 13 - 15).

Christ’s work is to defeat all evil on earth. First, He defeated sin and death, and in the end He will defeat Satan and all evil. World events may seem out of control, and justice may seem to have vanished. But God is in control, allowing evil to remain for a time until He sends Jesus to earth again. Then Christ will present to God a perfect world,

Jesus means “the Lord saves.” Jesus came to earth to save us because we can’t save ourselves from sin and its consequences. No matter how good we are, we can’t eliminate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only Jesus can do that. Jesus didn’t come to help people save themselves; He came to be their Savior from the power and penalty of sin. 

Jesus came to give us peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14 vs 27.) With the Spirit of Jesus—the Holy Spirit—at work in our lives, we have deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Jesus’ peace we have no need to fear the present or future. Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict.

Jesus came to give us life. He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10 vs 10.)  in contrast to the thief who takes life, Jesus gives life. The life He gives right now is abundantly rich and full. It is eternal, yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane because of His overflowing forgiveness, love, and guidance.

You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look into God’s Face and tell Him you have received His Christmas gift. You should ask yourself: “He came to be my Lord and Savior, to save me from sins and reign as King in my heart; have I fulfilled the significance of His birth by responding to the significance of His death and resurrection? (See Acts 2 vs 36 - 38). If you forget about Jesus in this Christmas season, you’ve missed the entire, glorious point of the celebration. Jesus Christ is the reason for the season.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, I surrender myself totally to You, and confess You as my personal Lord and Savior, forgive me my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness, that I may live for You henceforth, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

TAKE EVERY WORD IN THE BIBLE SERIOUSLY

 Take Every Word in The Bible Seriously! 

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5 (KJV)

Looking down on any word in the Holy Bible is taking yourself out of the blessings therein. Every word in the Holy Bible is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Therefore, when we read, study, or meditate the Word of God, we get at least one profit of the four profits mentioned; that is, teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. Dear beloved, do you take every word in the Holy Bible seriously? In the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, all those who believed in His Word received the blessings therein. For example, the man who was sick for thirty-eight years at the pool believed in the words of Jesus when he was asked to pick up his mat and go home; he acted on the words of Jesus Christ and received his healing (John 5:5–15). On the contrary, the officer on whose arm the king rested disbelieved the words of Elisha and couldn’t partake of blessing (2 Kings 7:1–20). Beloved, it is better to believe every word in the Holy Bible and partake of the blessings therein than to disbelieve it or look down on it and forfeit the blessings. Every Word of God is pure, or tested and refined, so it is trustworthy; put your trust in it and meditate on it day and night. Practice it and your life will be transformed to the glory of God (Psalm 1:2–3). Hallelujah! God bless you!

Prayer Point: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for making Your Word available to me. I take every aspect of it seriously and believe it. I will meditate on it day and night and observe to practice it in order to be blessed in all my ways. Please lead me to teach others to also take Your Word seriously in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. Joy to the world as celebrate birth of our Lord Jesus today!